Reply by John Smith

leather – canvas – nylon ???

I would treat it like an old pair of stinky sneakers or pet odors in carpet.

do you have a bag of BBQ charcoal briquets ? put the belt inside the bag for a couple of days.
I would not be afraid of harming the leather with liquids. I don’t know it for a fact, but, I have heard,
that some construction workers actually work in the rain and their tool belts get wet. (just a rumor, of course).

after you get it deodorized, rub some Neatsfoot Oil on the leather parts.

or – return it to the store for exchange.

my favorite tool bag was a vintage model from the ‘60s . . . all leather bags with rivets and a nice
leather belt. I hung it in my tool shed where (unbeknownst to me) some flying squirrels had taken up residence.
the little varmints chewed it up something terrible to the point it was useless.
I have yet to look for another one as my construction days are over. (but would be nice to pass one to my grandson).
real leather just looks natural in the construction zone – vs nylon and canvas.

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-- I am a painter. That's what I do. I paint things --